In plain words
Right there is discrimination. "Buddhigrāhyam atīndriyam," they said in the Vedānta. We must not at all be hasty in blaming someone at once, abusing someone, or holding someone guilty. All these are evil results joined to bad thoughts.
First, the seeds called thoughts: the fruits called good karmas are born. From the seeds called karmas come the fruits called sādhanas. When we sow the seed called sādhana, the fruit called character comes. When we sow the seed called character, the fruit called good fortune comes to us. If we want our fortune to be good, before that its śīla, that is, character, must be right. If this character is to be proper, our sādhana must be right. That is, the conduct by which we live in daily life; for this sādhana to be proper, the karmas we do must be pure. For these karmas to be pure, the thoughts must be pure. So thoughts alone are the cause of our good fortune and misfortune. So thoughts alone are the root cause of our sorrow and joy, our troubles and losses, our gains and pains, of everything. If we want these good thoughts, we need good company. So these thoughts are not gained through our studies, or our riches, or our strength, or our fame and honour.
These thoughts are one's own thoughts; they must arise from one's own heart in a pure feeling. Thinking, "I am a great scholar," can breed pride. Thinking, "I have great intelligence," can also turn into Ahaṅkāra. Thinking, "I am wealthy," is also a kind of Ahaṅkāra. Thinking, "I am strong," is also Ahaṅkāra. This strength, this wealth, this learning, this intelligence: God gave them to you, not for you to grow proud. Through these sacred powers you must make your life joyful and try to share your joy with many. Increase goodness with your intelligence. Increase Viveka with your learning. Nurture humility with this Viveka. Share this humility out in society. This is the effect of our good thoughts. A sacred result. So thoughts are most exalted. Vaster than the sky. Subtler than electric power.